The rate of suicide has been steadily declining in Russia. Nevertheless, Russia remains on top of the list when it comes to countries with highest suicide rates in the world. Right now the country stands at #14 in the world according to Wikipedia. Source
Both maps look stunningly similar if we compare Europe and North America. Please remember that depression cases in Russia are severely underdiagnosed due to the fact many Russians are still wary of being treated by mental health practitioners. During the Soviet times, it was common practice to place dissidents and free thinkers in mental hospitals involuntarily.
It is even more disturbing that teenage suicide rates are three times higher in Russia than the world average.
One of the points to keep in mind is that more males commit suicides than females in every age group, and it is especially noticeable after the age of fifteen, when males commit suicides almost twice as often as females. Source
1. Alcoholism
Many sources point out a very strong correlation between high suicide rates in Russia and high rates of alcohol consumption. On a side note, heavy drinking depletes one's vitamin levels, especially folate, vitamin B12, vitamin A and calcium. Source
It also interferes with liver functions.
It also interferes with liver functions.
2. Vitamin D Deficiency
Russia does not get too many sunny days throughout the year. On average, Moscow gets around 1800 hours of the sun per year. Source
Even though it is more than in other places on the same latitude, it is clearly not enough to keep healthy levels of vitamin D that is essential to good health.
Even though it is more than in other places on the same latitude, it is clearly not enough to keep healthy levels of vitamin D that is essential to good health.
Traditional Russian diet was always high in vitamin D-rich foods, providing an additional source of this essential nutrient. Russians were used to an abundance of unpasteurized milk, eggs, bone-broth-based soups and dishes, meats in aspic, and, of course, red salmon. After the industrialization, the dietary habits have changed in a way that Russians consume more processed and empty-calorie foods than ever.
We know that vitamin D may play an important role in depression and overall mental health. On average, Russians are deficient in vitamin D as well as other nutrients.
There is also a strong correlation between country suicide rates and latitudinal distance from the equator. Suicide rates for countries with lower latitudes are remarkably low. Source
However, one might wonder why Russia has a much higher suicide rate than Canada that has almost the same latitudinal distance from the equator. The map below illustrates the suicide rate by country.
Let's compare this map with the one that depicts depression rates around the globe:
However, one might wonder why Russia has a much higher suicide rate than Canada that has almost the same latitudinal distance from the equator. The map below illustrates the suicide rate by country.
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3. Life Satisfaction
Although Copenhagen gets less sunny days than Russia per year, in general, Danish people are more satisfied with their lives. In fact, they are more satisfied than anybody else on this planet since Denmark continuously tops the happiness charts according to various sources. So how satisfied are Russians with their lives? Russia is squeezed in between Pakistan at #166 and Swaziland at #168. There are only 178 countries listed, where Burundi has the lowest life satisfaction index on the planet. Source
To see the visual representation of how happy Russians are compared to other nations, use the following:
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To conclude this post, we would like to mention that reducing high alcohol consumption and eliminating nutritional deficiencies might prove beneficial in lowering the number of suicides in Russia.
Let me help you with something. Google "January temperature world map" and look at Russia and Asian countries (Koreas for example), as you go East and keep the same latitude, things are actually getting colder without moving farther north.
ReplyDeleteSo, in Scandinavian countries like Norway and Sweden it is MUCH warmer than in Russia even though the seem to be farther north. The theory with Vit D may be true.
Thank you for your comment. Vitamin D deficiency, as far as we know, is correlated with nutrition and exposure to sunlight. Russian cuisine lacks foods high in vitamin D and the amount of sunlight in most Northern areas is negligible.
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